Automatic stop motion



June 3, 1930. E. L. TIFFANY AUTOMATIC STOP MOTION Filed June 22, 1929 3 z w z 7 2 INVENTOR Edward L. vffa/ny M2 ATTORNEY Patented June 3, 1930 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD L. TIFFANY, OF WEST BARRINGTON, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL INDIA RUBBER COMPANY, OF BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND Application filed June 22,

This invention relates to a device for controlling machinery which is actuable by the breaking of strands.

In the art of manufacturing electrical oables composed of a plurality of wires, or in the art of manufacturing fabrics composed of a plurality of threads, it is essential that the filaments or strands which go to make up the article be continuous. Various devices have been devised heretofore for sounding an alarm or for stopping the operation of the machinery upon the breaking or ending of a strand.

It is the object of this invention to provide a new and improved device for "controlling an electrical circuit which is actuated by the breaking of a strand. It is also the object of this invention to provide a device actuated by the breaking of a strand which employs the force of gravity as its operating force.

Other objects and advantages of the inven tion will appear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a machine embodying the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

In the use of the machine of this invention, a plurality of wires such as indicated at 1 pass through the machine in parallel relation. On entry of the wires into the machine they are separated by the pins 2 carried upon beam 3 supported in side members 4 of the frame of the machine. The wires then pass through the grooves 5 in the roller 6 mounted for rotation on. pins 7 carried in the side members 4- of the frame. The grooves in the rollers 7 aid in keeping the wires in separated parallel relation. A roller 8, rotatably mounted in the frame of the machine, in all respects similar to the roller 5 and a beam 9, carryil'ig pins 10. in all respects similar to beam 3 are mounted at the side of the machine through which the wires 1 last pass. Inasmuch as the wires after leaving the machine converge to a common point. the pins 10 are provided for the purpose of maintaining them in separated parallel relation.

Between the rollers 8 and 6, a plurality of AUTOMATIC STOP MOTION 1929. Serial No. 372,972.

spacing plates 11 are mounted and are scoured to U-shaped fra1nes 12 which are secured to the side members 4 of the frame by belts or in any other convenient manner. The wires 1 pass between the spacer plates 11. A plurality of peripherally grooved disks 13, one for each Wire, are positioned between the spacer plates 11 and roll on the wires as they are moved through the machine. In order to prevent the disks 13 from being ejected from the machine because in any sudden variation in the tension of the wires 1, rollers 14 are positioned above the disks in a manner such as to prevent the passage of the disks therethrough. Rollers 14 are mounted for rotation in the frame 15, which frame is rotatably mounted as indicated at 16 upon the main frame of the machine. The limit of rotation of the frame is determined by the rivet or stop 17. The frame 15 also rotatably carrles the roller 18 which rests upon the incoming wires so as to mamtam the wires in position between the pins 2 and in the grooves 5 of the roller 6.

. So long as the wires or strands 1 are continuous, the disks 13 are supported in the position shown in Fig. 2. However, upon the breaking of any of the wires or strands 1, the disks supported thereby will fall through the opening between the spacing plates Hand in the downward course of the disk 13 it will strike a pan 19 carried by a frame 20 rotatably mounted as indicated at 21 on one of the U-shaped frames 12 or on any other convenient stationary part of the machine. The frame 20 carries electrical contact 22 which is adapted to engage with electrical contact 23 also rotatably mounted upon one of the U-shaped frames 12. Thus it is seen that the breaking of the strand and the consequent fall of one of the disks 18 makes an electrical contact which may be utilized either to stop av machine by applying a brake or cutting off a source of electrical power or to sound a signal or for any other desired purpose.

The frame 20 and contact 23 are rotatably mounted so that the pan 19 may move sulliciently to permit the disk 13 to fall to a pan '24 carried by the frame 25 rotatably mounted, as indicated at 26, upon a bracket 27 extending from the frame of the machine. The frame 25 is counterweight-ed as indicated at 28. The weight of the disk 13 serves to rotate the frame 25 from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 at which time the disk is supported between the pan 24- and the lower edge of one of the frames 12, as shown in Fig. 2. The frame 25 is provided with a link 29rotatably mounted thereon, which link passes through an opening in block 30 carried by the bracket 27. A spring 31 surrounds link 29 and rests at one end upon the block 30 and, supports upon its other end the stop 32. A block 33 is adjustably mounted upon the link 29. When the frame 25 is rotated under the influence of the weight of the disk 13, the motion of the frame is limited by block 33 striking stop 32 so that the frame assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Nhen it is desired to extract the fallen disk 13 from the machine, the frame 25 may be rotated against the action of spring 31 until the opening between the pan 24: and the frame member 12 is sufficient to permit withdrawal of the disk 13. When it is desired to position the disk 13 on a strand, the frame 15 is rotated about its pivot 16 thus making it possible to insert the disk into the machine.

Vhile one form of machine has been disclosed which embodies the principles of this invention, many modifications may be made in the elements of the machine without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance the disks 16 may take other suitable forms such as weights having suitable eyes or books for engagement with the strands whereby they may be supported in hanging relation thereto. Other forms of weights suspended by the wires in any suitable manner may be employed. The mechanism which responds to the weight of the member suspended by the strands may take the form of any suitable weight responsive means such as a spring controlled movable mechanism capable of operating any suitable sort of electrical switch or rheostat or similar electrical control device.

For an understanding of the scope of the invention. reference should be had to the following claims interpreted in the light of the doctrine of equivalents.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patentis:

1. An e ectrical control device actuable by discontinuities in strands which comprises in combination, means for supporting a plurality of moving strands in separated relation, a iieripherally grooved disk supported by each of the strands while under tension, the strands being arranged to run in the periph eral grooves, means'for maintaining the disks in separated relation, the disks being free to move under the influence of gravity when not supported by the strands, and means actuable by the weight of any of the disks for controlling an electrical circuit.

2. An electrical control device actuable by discontinuities in strands which comprises in combination, means for supportinga plurality of moving strands in separated relation, a peripherally grooved disk resting upon each strand under tension, means for maintaining the disks in separated relation, said disks being free to move under the influence of 'ra-v-itv when not supported by the strands, a rotatably mounted beam having a pan mounted thereon, said pan being positioned in the pathof fall of any of the disks when any strand breaks,.said beam being actuable by the Weight of the disk, and means operated. by motion of the beam for controlling an electrical circuit.

Signed at Bristol, county of Bristol, State ofR-hode Island, this 15 day of June, 1929.

EDWVARD L. TIFFANY. 

